Visual Science CommunicationVeronica Falconieri Hays, MA, CMI / Falconieri Visuals
A quick introduction...
Medical illustrator and principal of Falconieri Visuals, LLC, a medical & scientific illustration & animation company. MA in Medical and Biological Illustration, Johns Hopkins
(BA in biological sciences and art, Smith College)
National Cancer Institute (NCI) 2014-2017. Founded Falconieri Visuals in 2017.
Top tips for visual #scicomm
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Identify your content…
1
2 3
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Z-Layout
Yes ✔
No �
Yes ✔
Identify your content…
...Then lay it out.
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Z-Layout
Linear Yes ✔
No �
Yes ✔
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Z-Layout
Linear Yes ✔
No �
Yes ✔
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Z-Layout
Linear Yes ✔
No �
Yes ✔
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Z-Layout
Linear Yes ✔
No X
Yes ✔
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Z-Layout
Linear Yes ✔
No X
Yes ✔
1. Plan ahead… don’t be afraid to draw!
Identify your content…
...Then lay it out.
2. Emphasize main points
Boldness Contrast
Color (hue)
Layout
Color (saturation)
Non-color based methods:
Color-based methods:
2. Emphasize main points
Boldness Contrast
Color (hue)
Layout
Color (saturation)
Non-color based methods:
Color-based methods:
2. Emphasize main points
Boldness Contrast
Color (hue)
Layout
Color (saturation)
Non-color based methods:
Color-based methods:
2. Emphasize main points
Boldness Contrast
Color (hue)
Layout
Color (saturation)
Non-color based methods:
Color-based methods:
2. Emphasize main points
Boldness Contrast
Color (hue)
Layout
Color (saturation)
Non-color based methods:
Color-based methods:
2. Emphasize main points
Boldness Contrast
Color (hue)
Layout
Color (saturation)
Non-color based methods:
Color-based methods:
3. Use color strategically
The main point ...What’s the point??? And why do my eyes hurt??
When using multiple colors to categorize, vary brightness as well as hue
Different hues...... But similar brightness Different hues...... And varying brightness
Save bright, saturated colors for emphasis
3. Use color strategically
Save bright, saturated colors for emphasis
The main point ...What’s the point??? And why do my eyes hurt??
When using multiple colors to categorize, vary brightness as well as hue
Different hues...... But similar brightness Different hues...... And varying brightness
3. Use color strategically
The main point ...What’s the point??? And why do my eyes hurt??
When using multiple colors to categorize, vary brightness as well as hue
Different hues...... But similar brightness Different hues...... And varying brightness
Save bright, saturated colors for emphasis
3. Use color strategically
The main point ...What’s the point??? And why do my eyes hurt??
When using multiple colors to categorize, vary brightness as well as hue
Different hues...... But similar brightness Different hues...... And varying brightness
Save bright, saturated colors for emphasis
3. Use color strategically
The main point ...What’s the point??? And why do my eyes hurt??
Different hues...... But similar brightness Different hues...... And varying brightness
When using multiple colors to categorize, vary brightness as well as hue
Save bright, saturated colors for emphasis
3. Use color strategically
The main point ...What’s the point??? And why do my eyes hurt??
Different hues...... But similar brightness Different hues...... And varying brightness
When using multiple colors to categorize, vary brightness as well as hue
Save bright, saturated colors for emphasis
3. Use color strategically
Bhutia YD, Ganapathy V. Glutamine transporters in mammalian cells and their functions in physiology and cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015;1863(10):2531-9.
All the color
Strategic color
3. Use color strategically
Bhutia YD, Ganapathy V. Glutamine transporters in mammalian cells and their functions in physiology and cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015;1863(10):2531-9.
All the color
Strategic color
4. Keep your fonts simple and readable
Use different weights of the same font for emphasis - It’s sort of important...Ok it’s a big deal…. Actually it’s a really big deal
Don’t go too light. Especially on slides.
Serif fonts are easier to read in paragraphs than san-serif fonts, but….
Sans-serif fonts are generally more readable than serif fonts for people with dyslexia
Comic sans is one of the most readable - but it’s also too informal for many applications. (Also it can be polarizing).
Use different weights of the same font for emphasis - It’s sort of important...Ok it’s a big deal…. Actually it’s a really big deal
Don’t go too light. Especially on slides.
Serif fonts are easier to read in paragraphs than san-serif fonts, but….
Sans-serif fonts are generally more readable than serif fonts for people with dyslexia
Comic sans is one of the most readable - but it’s also too informal for many applications. (Also it can be polarizing).
4. Keep your fonts simple and readable
...And unless your content is about font varieties, use just
1 font (maybe 2).
5. Stick to a consistent design
Check for consistency in colors, fonts, viewing angles, arrow types, line widths
6. Break down complex visuals
VERONICA FALCONIERI HAYS/SCIENCE FROM J. A. BLUESTONE
You start talking about this
While your audience is looking at all of this
6. Break down complex visuals
VERONICA FALCONIERI HAYS/SCIENCE FROM J. A. BLUESTONE
6. Break down complex visuals
VERONICA FALCONIERI HAYS/SCIENCE FROM J. A. BLUESTONE
6. Break down complex visuals
VERONICA FALCONIERI HAYS/SCIENCE FROM J. A. BLUESTONE
6. Break down complex visuals
VERONICA FALCONIERI HAYS/SCIENCE FROM J. A. BLUESTONE
7. Consider compatibility
Ask about platform ahead of time if possible.
Fonts: Is the font you’re using installed by default on both Macs and PCs?
Ratio: 4:3 (old) or 16:9 (current) - At this point, 16:9 is default
16:9 4:3
Animations: Will I always be presenting on a computer with the most up to date Powerpoint?
Movies: .MP4 is typically safe. Test on another computer.
8. Social Media: Use a visual whenever possible
In scientist to scientist communication, your audience is already engaged. On social media, your audience is more varied. A visual entices them to engage with your content.
8. Social Media: Use a visual whenever possible
Free tools and software are available to help you create quality visuals and infographics without having to know professional software
Facebook / LinkedIn/ Twitter optimized graphic and Instagram optimized graphic, created on www.canva.com
9. Social Media: Make it move
● Compare and contrast
● Change over time
● Building complexity
Gif example: https://twitter.com/FalconieriV/status/
938442731784949761
9. Social Media: Make it move
● Compare and contrast
● Change over time
● Building complexity
Gif example: https://twitter.com/FalconieriV/status/
974281083234799617
9. Social Media: Make it move
● Compare and contrast
● Change over time
● Building complexity
Gif example: https://falconierivisuals.com/?portfolio=dna-
binding-mechanism-of-crispr-cas-surveillance-complex-csy
10. Know your audience
10. Know your audience
Interest Level
Knowledge Level
Low High
Visual must inspire engagement
Engagement not as important
Low High
More context Considerate verbal and visual vocabulary usage
Less context
More detail
10. Know your audience
Illustration for surgeon
10. Know your audience
Illustration for surgeon Illustration for patient
10. Know your audience
Two ways to visualize an electron density map
10. Know your audience
Two ways to visualize an electron density map
Modeling program screenshot ● Dark background bad for
printing ● Can’t isolate single section ● Distracting color palette
10. Know your audience
Two ways to visualize an electron density map
Modeling program screenshot ● Dark background bad for
printing ● Can’t isolate single section ● Distracting color palette
Render from professional 3D software ● Good for printing ● Clear view of single section ● Effective color palette
10. Know your audience
Two ways to visualize an electron density map
Modeling program screenshot ● Dark background bad for
printing ● Can’t isolate single section ● Distracting color palette
Render from professional 3D software ● Good for printing ● Clear view of single section ● Effective color palette
Specialists are more familiar with this